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"Ah, I see. I suppose," I nodded, processing her words.
Her smile returned. "I'll call him in the morning. It's perfect timing since he's in Vail for a few days."
"Amy, your assistance means the world to me," I murmured, drawing her close to me. We remained entwined, nestled against the cushions of the worn couch. The moment hung in the air like a spell, our eyes locking together, and something ancient and electric zinged between us. We met each other halfway in a tender, lingering kiss until Amy reluctantly retreated.
"Looks like you're a father now," she teased, a playful grin playing at the corners of her mouth. "Who would've guessed? I should make tracks it's getting late. Tomorrow is a big day for both of us."
Guiding her to the door, my fingers were loath to release hers. "Goodnight, Amy. I'm grateful you stood by me."
"Goodnight, Mitch. We'll navigate this together," she assured me, her smile a beacon of warmth before she disappeared into her car.
I stood on the porch, watching her leave, my heart full of gratitude and admiration for this amazing woman who had entered my life. As the night surrounded me, I looked up at the dark sky, feeling the soft touch of the wind on my face.
Chapter Five
Amy
I hit 'send' on the spreadsheet and took a bite of my taco while waiting for Daniel's response. Sure enough, my inbox pinged immediately with a simple thumbs-up and a smiley emoji. I chuckled, grateful for the laid-back work environment that helped relieve some of the tension I'd been feeling.
This morning, I started my day with a yoga session to clear my mind before reaching out to Papa about Mitch's custody case. When I finally had a chance to explain the situation, I could hear the disapproval in Papa's voice. "Amy, you know I don't like that Mitch guy," he grumbled. But then, after a pause, he relented, "But if there's a child involved, we can't just sit back and do nothing. I have to respect the man for stepping up."
Finally, Papa agreed to give me a referral for an attorney and scheduled an appointment for Mitch. He warned me, "This attorney doesn't come cheap, but he's worth it. Make sure Mitch knows what he's getting into. He'll be in good hands. He's an old family friend."
Then he handed the phone over to Mum, and we chatted for a while, during which she asked me if Mitch and I had gone on a date yet. I was caught off guard and stumbled over my response, but Mum admitted that she liked Mitch and that Papa's issue with him was more of a "man thing." "He just needs someone to blame for my kidnapping, and Mitch was an easy target."
While balancing my laptop on the edge of the kitchen counter, I searched online for potential nannies for Mitch. My work phone kept buzzing, but I was determined to help Mitch in any way I could. Time was running out, and he had a lot to do.
Lost in thought, I heard a soft knock on my door. "Just a second," I called out to Greg, my security guard, and unlocked the door. To my surprise, it was Mitch, looking tired but still managing a warm smile. "Hey there, beautiful. How's the nanny search going?"
"Wow, what a pleasant surprise," I said, giving him a quick hug. "Come on in. Are you hungry? I've got some taco fixings in the fridge."
After accepting my invitation, Mitch rummaged through the fridge, and I continued my search from the couch. He mentioned that he couldn't sleep after I left the night before, so he went for a walk on the beach. When he came back, he started his own search for a nanny online. Rubbing my temples, I said, "Honestly, Mitch, I don't know how people find good nannies. I've gone through dozens of profiles, and I still haven't found anyone who feels right for Ava."
He swirled his taco in the zesty sauce, a glint in his eyes as he spoke. "Amy, I can't thank you enough for lending a hand. I know you've got your own fair share of troubles. Don't worry you head too much. I'm sure someone will eventually pop up."
I snapped my laptop shut, offering a warm smile. "Isn't that what friends are for?"
Mitch sauntered over and sank down beside me, our shoulders gently touching. "Speaking of support, how'd your chat with your dad go? Did he agree to back me up in the custody battle?"
I hesitated, the memory of my father's words heavy on my mind. "He did. Papa reached out to his friend and set up a Zoom call for you in a couple of days. But Mitch, he wanted me to warn you - guys like Angelo Ferrara don't come cheap, and they're in high demand. I'll text you the contact info and the Zoom link."
He gave my hand a comforting squeeze. "I can handle tough. Thank you, Amy, for making this happen for me."
"By the way, I noticed you left the office early. Everything okay there? I wrapped up my spreadsheets before lunch, and when I chatted with Courtney, she mentioned she was prepping for a crucial call with the company lawyer."
Mitch's arm slid over the back of the couch, his fingers resting on my shoulder, as he reiterated the disheartening news. "Times are tough for us. We've lost a revenue stream we were relying on, to be honest. If we don't land another big project soon, we won't be able to pay our team."
A worried frown creased my brow. "Is it really that bad? I knew things were rough, but I didn't think it was that dire."
He sighed, his gaze fixated on the floor. "It's pretty severe. As you know, we've been hoping to bounce back since we lost the grant money."
"I'm so sorry, Mitch. After everything we've been through, I'm just grateful Rosedale took me on. Can I do anything more to help?"
Mitch drew me into his embrace and tenderly kissed my nose. "Amy, don't blame yourself for someone using you to get to us. You're already going above and beyond. We're all in this together, doing what we can to keep each other afloat—and safe."
The soft chime of my phone broke the cozy silence, our minds adrift in thought. "Hmm, could be a reply to the job posting I put up," I mused.
"Let me get that for you!" Mitch leaped to fetch my phone from the kitchen counter.
